Bengal Bandh Updates: Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumder called for a 12-hour bandh in the state on Wednesday, which was criticized by the ruling TMC.
Bengal Bandh News Updates: The Bharatiya Janata Party has announced a 12-hour strike in West Bengal on Wednesday, August 28, protesting the “brutal” police crackdown on “peaceful” protesters during the Nabanna Abhijan march to the state secretariat in Kolkata on Tuesday.
The BJP has declared a Bangla bandh on August 28, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The protesters were attempting to reach ‘Nabanna’ to demand the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee following the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.
Violence and chaos erupted on the streets of Kolkata after a protest rally went awry. In response, Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumder called for a 12-hour bandh in the state.
BJP President JP Nadda criticized the Kolkata Police for their alleged heavy-handedness in dealing with protesters, stating that “in Didi’s West Bengal, supporting rapists and criminals is prioritized.”
On Tuesday, the Nabanna Abhijan was organized by the unregistered students’ group Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj (West Bengal Students Community) and the Sangrami Joutha Mancha (Joint Platform of Struggle), a state government employees’ organization demanding equal DA with their Central government counterparts.
The rally started at College Square in Kolkata, with protesters gathering in the Santragachi area of Howrah amid tight security around the West Bengal state secretariat.
In response to the BJP’s bandh call, senior Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh remarked, “We have consistently stated that the Chhatra Samaj-sponsored Nabanna Abhijan had BJP backing. This was evident from the way miscreants, posing as student protesters, caused widespread disruption under the guise of peaceful protests today. The BJP’s quick call for a bandh further confirms their intent to incite disturbances.”
Bangla Bandh Today Over Nabanna Abhijan Clashes: 10 Key Points
- Clashes broke out between police and protesters in various parts of Kolkata and neighboring Howrah on Tuesday as demonstrators tried to breach barricades en route to the West Bengal secretariat, ‘Nabanna’.
- The BJP called for a general strike on Wednesday, which the ruling Trinamool Congress condemned as an attempt to incite chaos.
- Over 200 individuals were arrested in connection with the Nabanna Abhijan rally.
- Violence was reported at MG Road, Hastings Road, Princep Ghat, Santragachi, and Howrah Maidan, resulting in injuries to some protesters and 29 police personnel.
- PTI reported that 126 members of Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj were arrested, including 33 women.
- The Kolkata Police used lathi charges, water cannons, and tear gas to disperse protesters who threw stones and tried to breach barricades blocking their path to the secretariat.
- The police later employed tear gas and lathi charges to disperse BJP leaders and supporters marching toward Kolkata Police headquarters, Lalbazar, demanding the release of arrested students. This action followed attempts to breach police barricades.
- BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar, who led the march, fell ill from tear gas exposure and had to leave. Earlier, his procession was halted from advancing toward Lalbazar.
- JP Nadda criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, stating, “The police’s actions in Kolkata have outraged those who value democratic principles. In Didi’s West Bengal, aiding rapists and criminals is valued, while advocating for women’s safety is punished.” He accused the Kolkata Police of suppressing the call for justice and claimed Banerjee has remained silent on the crime against a woman and the misleading of her parents.
- Senior Bengal Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya praised the police for their handling of the crowd, commending their restraint despite provocations during the Nabanna Abhijan.
